Snyder joins 'Watchmen'

LOS ANGELES, June 23 (UPI) -- Director Zach Snyder has signed on to direct the long-delayed film adaptation of the U.S. comic book series "Watchmen."

The "Dawn of the Dead" director is the most recent name associated with the film -- which at various times had Paul Greengrass, Terry Gilliam and Darren Aronofsky attached to it, the Hollywood Reporter said.

The "Watchmen" comic book series, which was released in 1986 and created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, is the only graphic novel to receive a Hugo award and grace Time magazine's list of 100 greatest novels.

Screenwriter Alex Tse signed on to write the screen adaptation, which will focus on the murder of one of the world's remaining superheroes, the Reporter said.